Petersburg Borough

Petersburg Borough, Alaska (commonly referred to as Petersburg County-level government) is a unified home rule borough located in the southeastern panhandle of Alaska, approximately 120 miles north of Ketchikan. The borough includes the northern portion of Mitkof Island, Kupreanof Island, and surrounding smaller islands and mainland areas, totaling approximately 3,829 square miles, with 2,257 square miles of land and 1,572 square miles of water. The borough seat and primary community is the City of Petersburg County, which merged with the former Petersburg County Census Area to form Petersburg County Borough in 2013. As of the 2020 Census, the borough had a population of approximately 3,398 residents. Known as "Little Norway," Petersburg County was founded by Norwegian immigrant Peter Buschmann in 1897 and retains strong Scandinavian cultural heritage, evident in its annual Little Norway Festival and distinctive architecture. The community is accessible only by air or sea, with no road connections to the continental highway system. Major landmarks include the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness, LeConte Glacier (the southernmost tidewater glacier in North America), Petersburg County Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness, and the historic Sons of Norway Hall. The borough economy centers on commercial fishing, seafood processing, and tourism. Petersburg County Borough government operates from the Municipal Building at 12 South Nordic Drive, Petersburg, AK 99833. The Borough Clerk maintains public records, the Borough Assessor handles property valuations, and the Borough Manager oversees administrative functions. Petersburg operates under a unified borough-city government structure, consolidating services that would traditionally be separated in other Alaska jurisdictions.

• The borough economy centers on commercial fishing, seafood processing, and tourism.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• Arrest records and police reports can be requested under the Alaska Public Records Act (AS 40.25.110-40.25.220), which requires agencies to respond to public records requests within a reasonable timeframe.
• Requests should be submitted in writing to the Petersburg Police Department Records Division.

Criminal Records

Criminal records in Petersburg County, AK are maintained by local law enforcement agencies and the court system. Background checks are typically obtained through state-level repositories or authorized vendors. For an authoritative source, see Search Cases - Alaska Court System.

Arrest Records

Arrest records in Petersburg County, AK are public under most state public-records laws unless sealed or expunged by a court. They are maintained by the arresting agency, primarily the County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments.

Jail & Inmate Records

The Petersburg County jail is operated by the County Sheriff's Office and houses pretrial detainees and short-sentence inmates. Inmate locator tools allow public searches by name or booking number.

• Look up current inmates and booking information at Petersburg County Jail, AK Inmate Lookup, Contacts, and More.
• Sheriff's Office: Petersburg Police Department | Petersburg Alaska.
• The bond and bail process allows release of detainees under conditions set by the court; inquiries about recently arrested individuals can be directed to the jail's administrative office.

• CourtView provides case summaries, party information, hearing schedules, and disposition information for most cases, though certain records may be sealed or confidential pursuant to court rules.
• Physical records can be accessed at the courthouse during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding state holidays).
• Certified copies of court documents cost $5 for the first page and $2 for each additional page, with additional fees for research time.
• Traffic citations and minor infractions may also be processed through Petersburg Borough court location, with payment options available online through the Alaska Court System payment portal.

Property records for Petersburg County, Alaska are recorded by the Alaska State Recorder's Office (Department of Natural Resources), not at the borough or municipality level. Alaska is divided into 34 recording districts administered by the state.

🔗 https://dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff/

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

• Death certificates cost $30 for the first copy and $25 for additional copies.
• Processing time is typically 3-5 weeks for mail requests, though expedited service is available for an additional fee.
• VitalChek, an authorized third-party vendor, offers online and phone ordering at www.vitalchek.com with additional service fees and faster processing (approximately 7-10 business days plus shipping).
• Marriage licenses are issued by Petersburg Borough Clerk's Office at 12 South Nordic Drive, Petersburg, AK 99833 (phone: 907-772-4519).
• The marriage license fee is approximately $60, requires both parties to appear in person with valid identification, and has a three-business-day waiting period after issuance before the ceremony can be performed.

Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.

• Applications and renewals can be processed in person or by mail, with fees varying based on business type and gross receipts.
• The Corporations section provides free online search capabilities for registered business entities, including corporation names, LLC names, registered agents, filing dates, and entity status.
• Business entity filings, annual reports, and name reservations are all processed through the state office at P.O.
• Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811-0806 (phone: 907-465-2530).
• Building permits, construction permits, zoning variances, and conditional use permits are issued by the Petersburg Borough Community Development Department (phone: 907-772-4520), located at the Municipal Building.